Israel Expands Lebanon Combat Zone Amid Fresh Escalation

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Beirut: Israel has declared a large new area of southern Lebanon a combat zone and ordered residents to move north, signaling a major escalation in fighting with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah despite a ceasefire announced earlier this year.

The Israeli military warned civilians living south of the Zahrani River to evacuate immediately, saying it planned to operate with “great force” against Hezbollah positions in the area. The zone stretches roughly 40 kilometres north of the Israeli border and covers a wide section of southern Lebanon.

The announcement came after more than 120 Israeli strikes targeted southern and eastern Lebanon on Tuesday. Israel has already issued evacuation orders for areas farther south near the Litani River, but this is the first time the military has expanded the warning to the entire region south of the Zahrani River.

Lebanese security officials said large numbers of residents were fleeing north toward the coastal city of Sidon as the evacuation order coincided with Eid Al-Adha celebrations across the country.

The conflict has continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced on April 16. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes since March have killed thousands of people and displaced more than 1.2 million residents across the country.

Israel says its operations are aimed at stopping Hezbollah attacks on northern Israeli communities. The Israeli military reported that several Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire, including in drone attacks blamed on Hezbollah.

Pic Credit: AFP